Work underway as drought raises concern for fish in Cowichan River
Tuesday will mark 41 days since Vancouver Island has seen any measurable amount of rain, and that is drying up rivers in the Cowichan Valley.
Work is underway to rebuild the banks of the Cowichan River after heavy winter rainfalls eroded them away. With the banks eroded, homes are vulnerable to flooding when waterflows are high.
Dredging work will also be done to remove sedimentation from the river's floor. That work is to help save the upcoming salmon run.
"We’re losing pool habitat, quite simply. It’s a place for adult salmon to hold as they’re getting ready to go up the system," said Tim Kulchyski, a biologist with Cowichan Tribes.
Due to climate change, the potential for winter snowpack is being lost, which is important for fish and serves as the buffer that the river needs to make it through a drought season.
"It‘s nice to have that holdback," said Kulchyski "For fall fish, they’ll come in and they’ll spawn. Their eggs lie in the system for as long as a couple on months. They hatch, then they actually live in the river. They need to get to a basic size."
Max Scruton is an engineer with Kerr Wood Leidal and Associates. He has been working with the Cowichan Tribes for four years.
"This riverbank actually used to be way out over there, and it’s been progressively eroding it’s way in," said Scruton.
The repair and dredging work is all part of a $24 million project that will also include upgrades to the Cowichan River weir, which was originally built in 1955.
"The idea is to raise the weir, bring it up to date and allow greater storage and control so that more frequent droughts are less of an issue," said Kulchyski.
The river's source, Cowichan Lake, is also facing drought conditions. That has forced the weir's private operator, Catalyst Paper, to reduce flows and starve the river even further.
Intense droughts are a reality that Cowichan Tribes leaders hope can be avoided after their project to save the river is complete.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.